Locomotive feed-water-heating system



May 18 1926.

E. AVERILL LOCOMOTIVES FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM Filed June 23. 1920 May 18 1926.

E. A. AVERILL LQCOMO'IIVE FEED WATER HEATING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-$heei Filed June 25, 1920 V IV ENTOR. 6504M Q W r44 d A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 18, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL A. AVEBILL, OI MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO LOCOMOTIVE FEED WATER HEATER COMPANY, A GORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

LOGOMOTIVE FEED-WATER-HEATING SYSTEM.

Application filed June 23, 1820.

This invention relates to locomotive feed water heating systems and particularly to that class or systems whic 1 embodies a heater of the type known as :1 surface heater to which the feed water and the exhaust steam for heating the some are fed in independent currents, the exhaust strain can densin and draining from the heater through a suitable condensate druin or delivery pipe. The invention has especial reference to the location of the heater and to the handling and disposition of the condensute with a view to returning it to the feed Water.

Among the objects of the i11rt.- ntion is the provision of an arrangement which does not require an auxiliary lifting device for rinsing the condensate from the heater to the supply receptacle or tender. Another OlJjGLt of the invention is the provision of a. feed water heating system, ulilizin Y a. heater of the character specified, in \vhic 1 the condensate from the heater is delivered directly into the suction line of the boiler feed ump instead of into the supply reoeptcee or tender.

A more specific object of the invention the provision of a steam trap to prevent the ossible entrance of air as well as of steam rem the exhaust passages of the cylinders into the suction line of the boiler feed ump should, at any time, all the water he ruu'n from the condensate line.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a suitable mixer for the condensate and the feed water.

These, together with such other objects as may hereinafter appear, or are incident to my invention I obtain b means of a construetion which I have ilustpited more or less dingrammaticully in preferred form in the accoi'npanying iiirawings, wherein Figure 1 is u diagrammatic-n1 Silk J clove tion of e locomotive illustrating an embodiment of my improved feed water heating: it

urotus; Fig. 1 is a detail section of tie heater illustrating the various ccmioctions; Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical, longitudinal section through the steam and air tre Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of igure 2; and F1 ure 4 is an enlarged, vertical, longitudinn section through the feed water and condensate mixer.

Referring to the drawings and especially to Figure 1, it will be seen that I have lo- Serial No. 891,009.

cated a feed water heater 1, of the character above specified, on top of the smoke box 2 immediately in front of the stack 3. This location is, however, arbitrary, as the heater may be otherwise placed upon the boiler 4 us may be suitable or desirable. It is also not essential that it be placed on top of the lor-on'iotive although for the pur oses of this installation it should be locate at a point above the normal hi h level of the water in the supply receptac e or tender not illustrated. In the showing, exhaust steam from the L: Vlll1(ll$ is admitted to the heater through the inlet 6 and the gate valve 7. This steam, after it has heated the feed water. condenses and drains away through the condensate drain or delivery pipe 8. The exhaust stczun from the boiler feed pump 9 is also delivered to the heater to aid lll heating the water through the ipe 10, which pipe is provided with n suitnb e drain ll controlled by a valve 12. The exhaust steam from other auxiliary devices, such as the air compressor for the brake system, not shown in this embodiment, may also be deliverod to the heater if found convenient and desirable.

The fccrl water is delivered to the heater through the pi )0 l3 comin from the dis charge side of the boiler fee pump 9. This \\".|lt 'l' circulates through a series of tubes within the heater, the arrangement of which is illustrated in detail in Fig. 1", after which it passes out throu h the pipe 1d and is forced into the hoi er through the boiler check valve 15 located immediately below the bell 16. The .ipe i l may be provided with a suitable d i'ain connection 17 controlled by u vulve. lat. The suctionrline 19 of the lluilt'l feed pump 9 is connected to the suppl) receptacle or tender lily means of the ipe 20 and in the feed water supply line forum] by those two pipes I locate a conilcusnlc and feed wuter mixer 21. The condensate drain pipe 8 deliv rs the condensate from the heater into the feed water supply line at the point where the mixer is located.

in the condensate drain pipe are located n stcnm trap 22 and a filter 23, the steam trap being located on the heater side of the filter.

The filter is for the purpose of separating the oil from the condensate, more or less of \vliiclrin this type of heater is always carried from the cyhndcs by the exhaust steam loo llU

in its passage to and through the heater. It is essential that this oil he removed before the condensate is returned to the feed water supply. It is not. however. the intention in this invention to claim the. filter in the arrangement shown, but I have found that it is ilifl'nrult to obtain eftlcient funotionin uf thi filter due to the feet that occnsinmfi lllllltllit'S of steam pass down with the conensnlc through the pipe 8 which, upon entering the filter, destroy its ability to separate the oil from the water and carry the oil directly through the filtering elements. By meuns of the steam trap I am enabled to overcome this difiiculty and obtain cfl'leient functioning of the filter. Whenever steam may attempt to ass from the heater throu h the condensate rain line 8 the trap 22 sea 5 the passage to steam before it can enter the filter.

The combined steam trap and air seal is illustrated in detail in Figures 2 and 3. The base casting 26 of :his trap is arran cl to admit the condensate throu the in et 27 pass it through the balance valve 28 and discharge it through the outlet 29. The valve is flexibly connected to a float 30 within the housing 31 which is provided with a small air vent 32.

Normnll withcondensate ss'mg through the trap, t e housing 31 is lled with water and the float rises to the top of its trnvel which lifts valve 28 from its seat leavin n. free pesenge through the base 26. If %he supply of condensate should become exhausted and the suction of the boiler-feed pum should tend to draw air or steam throu h the tra the float would drop to eeat valve 8 and thereby seal the through base 26. Thus this valve performs the double function of preventi the entrance of steam into the filter an the en- 'trrnee of air or steam into the suction line of the ump.

It will be noted that in the preeent'installotion the condensate irom the heater is de liven-ed directly into the suction line of the boiler feed pump and in such on arr-lingement, the suction line be'm directly connected to the supply receptne c. it is necessary to provide some means for preventing the water in the supply receptacle from flowing out through the condensate drain line into the heater. If the heater were located below the level of the water in the supply reroplut'lt. as is ordinnril the case it would he nvr'vsmiry to nccomp ish this by the prox'li n of it suitable check valve in the conllL'lIHlll' delivery line. In view of the serious results that would follow should the check \':il 1! not function properly. such as the loss of iv; lll' without the knowledge of the engiuccr illtl the lhwl backing up of water into the cylinders. l have found It best to locate the heater :it :1 point nhove the normal high level of the wnber in the suppl rece tncle, us is lllustrutcd. By so locating the water it is impomible for the water from the supply receptacle to reach it through the condensate pi e.

The con cnsate and feed water mixer is 31- lustrated in sect-ion in Figure 4 from inspection of which figure it will be seen that the cold feed water coming throu h the pipe .20 is thoroughly mixed with t m condensate comin from pipe 8. The action is some what in the nature of an injector inasmuch as the cold water is given us free passage through the mixer 21 as is lmSa-silrlu so that the condensate is drawn into the mixer by the suction action-through the holes 33 in the cylindrical screen 34. he end of the screen 34 is open acl'ecent the suction line 19.

The operation of the system is as follows, assumin the locomotive to be running. Live steam or the operation of the boiler feed pump 9 is delivered through the pipe 25, the exhaust of which, as previously pointed out, is delivered to the heater. laxhaust steam from the cylinders is admitted to the heater through the gate valve 7 which, after accomplluhin its function passes out in the form of can waste through the drain 8. Any steam which may work itself out of the heater is caught in the trap 22 the oil is separated from the water in the hltm- 23 and the clean condensate is delivered to the mixer 21 in the feed water supply line. The holler feed pump draws its supply through the pipe 19 and delivers itto the heater through t \e pi) e 13 from which it is condnctixl to the der 4 through the boiler check valve 15 by means of the connecting pipe 14.

Because the condensate coming from the better is usually It a. very high temperature and; qince it is delivered directly to the suction line of the pump, under such suction it might flesh into the steam withvery serious results to the'operotion of the pum and the locomotive. In order to avoi this dnnger i la necessary that the condensate co thoroughly mixed with the incoming water tom the supply receptacle. For this purpose I have provi ed the mixer 21 which should be connected to the sop lv eccptecle ln a pipe of sufllcient ea neat-y to iu--ure et all times the'nereasary ow of cold water. If this pipe from the snpplv receptacle be of this character and if it at all times clear of obstructions, it is not nieces-wry that the mixer he of llrge size or capacity. A very small one in fact will answer the purpose such as is shown in Figure l and in detail in Figure 4. It is preferably tlmt the mixer be located at :1 point holmv the normal low level of the water in the supplv receptacle.

I claim:

I. A feed water heating system or inromotives comprising in combination with the usual water supply system, a surface type feed water heater located on the locomotive at a point above the highest normal level of the water in the supply system a boiler feed plump and connections for orcing vater om the supply system through the heater and into the boiler, a connection between the steam space of the heater-and the steam exhaust from the locomotive cylinders, a drain line connection between t of the heater and the. water ,sipply system on the suction side of the what feed pump for deliwering condensate back into the su ply system, and a steam trap in said drain ine.

2. A feed water heating system for locomotives comprising in combination with the usual water supply tank, a surface type feed water heater located on the locomotive at a. point above the highest normal level of the water in the tank, a boiler feed pump and connections for forcing water from the tank through the feed water heater into the boiler, a connection between the steam space of the e steam space heater and the steam exhaust from the locomotive cylinders, a drain line from the heater for delivering the condensate into the connection between the pump and the tank, and a steam trap in said drain line.

3. A feed water heating system for locomotives comprising in combination with the usual water supply tank, a surface typo feed water heater located on the locomotive at a point above the hi best normal level of the water in the tnnk,a oiler feed ump and con- :1-

nections for forcing water mm the tank through the feed water heater into the boiler, a connection between the steam space of the heater and the steam exhaust from the locomotive cylinders, a condensate and feed water mixer in the connection between the pump and the tank, a drain line from the eater for delivering the condensate into the mixer, and a steam trap in said drain line.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EARL A. AVERILL.

usual water supply system, a surface type feed water heater located on the locomotive at a point above the highest normal level of the water in the supply system, a boiler feed pump and connections for forcing water rom the supply system through the heater and into the boiler, a connection between the steam space of the heater and the steam exhaust from the locomotive cylinders, a drain line connection between the steam space of the heater and the water s pply system on the suction side of the oiler feed pump for delivering condensate back into the supply system, and a steam trap in said drain line.

2. A feed Water heating system for locomotives comprising in combination with the usual water supply tank, a surface type feed water heater located on the locomotive at a point above the highest normal level of the water in the tank, a boiler feed pump and connections for forcing water from the tank through the feed water heater into the boiler, a connection between the steam space of the heater and the steam exhaust from the 1000- motive cylinders, a drain line from the heater for delivering the condensate into the con nection between the pump and the tank, and

a steam trap in said drain line.

3. A feed water heating system for locomotives comprising in combination with the usual Water supply tank, a surf ace type feed water heater located on the locomotive at a point above the highest normal level of the water in the tank, a boiler iced pump and con- :13 nections for forcing water from the tank through the feed water heater into the boiler,

a connection between the steam space of the heater and the steam exhaust from the locomotive cylinders, a condensate and feed Water mixer in the connection between the pump and the tank, a drain line from the water for delivering the condensate into the mixer, and a steam trap in said drain line.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

EARL A. AVERILL.

Certificate of Correction.

it is hereby upon the application of Earl A. improvement in printed specification re uiring correction as the article the, and line 124, for the word preferably I Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

that the mid Letters same may Signed and sealed this 22d day of June,

[sun] certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,585,226, granted May 18, 1926,

Averill, of Mount Locomotive Feed-Water-Heating Systems,

Vernon, New York, for an errors appear in the Page 2, line 108, strike out read preferable; and

follows M. J. MOORE, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

it is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,585,226, granted llllay 18, 1926, upon the application of Earl A. Averill, of Mount Vernon, New York, for an improvement in Locomotive FeecllVater-Heating Systems, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 108, strike out the article the, and line 124, for the word preferably read preferable; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent ()flice.

Signed and sealed this 22d day of June, A. D. 1926. i

M. J. MOORE, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

